Naked Heat: Naked Cowboys, Book 7 (3 page)

“Everyone needs to talk to someone. Let me let you in on something, Mac.” Cade shifted his chair so he was facing Mac. “My wife is part of a little group of amazing women, who have each had their own crisis. The other women just reach out to them and refuse to let go. I don’t know where Georgie and I would be without them. So think about it. I don’t want to push you into a situation where you’re uncomfortable, but try not to close anything off either. Okay?”

“Okay.” Mac nodded. He certainly wasn’t ready to say anything one way or the other.

“I’m assuming if you’ve set up headquarters here, the asshole lives somewhere in Rowan County. Finding him, however, is going to be a problem, even though we don’t have a huge population. I want you to know that we have resources. I’m sure I speak for the others when I say we’d be happy to use them to help you. Keep that in mind.”

“I will.” Although at the moment, Mac had no intention of doing that at all. This was his problem.

“On another note,” Cade said, “I don’t know your exact plans for the property, but you do need to tear down the outbuildings, which are already a fire hazard. I think the house is salvageable, but you need a better inspection than mine. If you want a hand with a hammer and saw, just holler.”

“Let me ask you a question.” Mac was determined to change the topic of conversation. “I met Nida Beloit for the first time today.”

Cade grinned. “What do you want to know about Nida?” He gave Mac a hard look. “Business or personal?”

“Business. I don’t know her well enough to get personal.”

Although he’d been bothered by an itch ever since he’d left her, and getting personal was exactly what he wanted. And wasn’t that just the damndest thing? As angry and upset and grief-stricken as he was, his dick didn’t seem to get the message. Or his brain, which kept sending him images of the woman in her trim slacks that caressed her curves and the outline of her breasts beneath her blouse. He could still see her green cat’s eyes with their flecks of gold, her thick black hair that he wanted to pull loose from its clip and run his fingers through. Her mouth that just begged to be kissed. He wondered what her body looked like under those clothes and how it would feel to plunge himself inside her. Feel her hot, wet pussy clench around him.

Fuck, McDaniel. What kind of asshole has sexual fantasies in a situation like this?

“Mac? Did you hear what I just said?”

Mac suddenly realized the other man was talking to him and gave himself a mental shake.

“Sorry, my brain seems to keep taking vacations these days.”

Cade grinned, as if he knew damn well what Mac’s brain was doing. “I said, she’s a very sharp lady. She helped Cyn Orosco with the purchase of her store and Georgie with the deal on this B&B. She’s about the only game in town, mostly because people trust her and they make it known they don’t want anyone coming in and cutting into her business. She’s got three salesmen working for her and they all know this area like the back of their hands.” He studied Mac. “A word of warning. The women in this group love her and wouldn’t take kindly to anyone who gave her grief.”

Mac’s eyebrows flew up. “You think that’s what I might do?”

Cade shrugged. “You’re in a bad place right now. Nida’s the kind of woman who could make you feel a whole lot better without asking anything for herself. But she’s had a string of assholes walk in and out of her life, so her friends are very protective of her.”

“Jesus, man.” Mac raked his fingers through his hair. “I’m just buying a piece of property here. Tell the female warriors they’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Good. I hope you mean that.”

I’m going to do my best on that count.

But shit, he just couldn’t get her out of his mind.

Chapter Three

Mac turned off the Bushwhacker and wiped his face on his tee shirt, which he had long ago taken off. He tilted his head back to take a long drink of water then capped the bottle and looked around at his handiwork.
Not too bad
, he thought, if he did say so himself. He’d been at his new digs for a week, spending his days at hard labor and his nights on his state-of-the-art computer chasing every tidbit of information he had.

Cade had been a huge help, setting him up at the hardware store and turning him on to the people who’d come and torn down the outbuildings and hauled away the rotten wood. He had telephone service, an internet connection—which shocked him, way out here in the boonies—a sleeping bag and a minifridge. He still trekked to town once a day to pick up dinner, preferring to carry it back to the place rather than leave himself open to curious stares and too many questions. One thing he’d learned about Saddle Wells was it was a close-knit, friendly community, but the people could also be nosy. In a friendly way, of course, but still. He wasn’t about to satisfy people’s curiosity. He was here on a mission, and the less they knew the better.

A mission that he didn’t seem to be making much progress with. Before leaving San Antonio, he’d gone to the police lot where Alicia’s wrecked car had been towed. All the cops had been able to tell him was they had taken some paint scrapings from the bumper but they hadn’t provided any information. Mac had managed to take a few scrapings himself when they’d left him to stare at the vehicle, but at the moment he had no way to get them analyzed and use them to identify a vehicle. It was another thing he had to look into, but in a way that would not call attention to him or what he was doing. Flying under the radar was the only way he was going to get to the bottom of this mess.

And he didn’t need people around for that.

His parents were still having trouble coming to grips with the whole mess. Alicia had been a bright star lighting up the sky, and her death had really hit them hard. Mac called them every couple of days, just to check in on them, but he had no words of comfort for them. He barely had any for himself.

The police continued to list the crash as an open accident case. Yes, there was one person who’d gotten a look and told them it was a truck. But the witness hadn’t seen enough to give a good description. Yes, other people had run out of their houses, but not in time to see more than the taillights of the truck.

Mac kept up the pressure, checking with the police every few days. He had no intention of letting them shelve this in the cold-case files. As far as he was concerned, that wasn’t going to happen. But getting a list of possible ranchers and their families was a tedious job. He didn’t want to involve anyone else for fear of word getting out, but at this rate it could take forever. His level of anger was growing every day.

From his few trips into town, it was obvious Cade hadn’t spread Mac’s business around, and he was grateful for that. He didn’t want to be distracted by well-meaning people. But just as he thought that, he saw an SUV turning in from the road and heading up his driveway. For a brief moment, he actually hoped it might be Nida, although he kept reminding himself she was off-limits and he was a mess. Then he realized the vehicle was really dark green and not black.

Who the hell could this be?

He stood there, holding his sweaty tee shirt, until the SUV came to the end of the driveway and parked in the weed-choked gravel area. When the driver climbed out, he recognized Georgie Hannigan. Shit. Was she here on a do-gooder mission? That was the last thing he needed. He didn’t even bother to put the shirt back on, hoping she’d take the hint or else be offended enough to leave.

No such luck. She walked up to him, smiling broadly.

“Hey, Mac. Cade said you were working like a team of mules out here.” She looked around. “I see you’ve got those tumbledown outbuildings gone. And it’s good you’re attacking all this underbrush. I did that with the B&B so strange critters didn’t make homes in it.”

Okay, enough with the small talk.

“What can I do for you, Georgie? I don’t mean to be rude, but you can see I’ve got a ton of work to do here.”

“And I’m not here to stop you. But everyone needs a break now and then, and I have just the one for you. It’s midweek, the B&B is empty and we’re having a little friendly barbecue tonight. Just my girls’ group and their husbands, and we want you to come.”

Socialize? The thought made his nerves jangle.

“That’s very kind of you, but I don’t—”

“I could have called, since Cade managed to get your cell number, but I was sure you’d turn me down. It’s a lot harder to say no in person.”

“Like I said, I appreciate the invite—”

“Good. Good, good, good. Cade will pick you up at seven.” She glanced at the house. “You get the water working yet?”

“Marginally, why?”

“So you can shower after you’re done here, of course. Although I’m sure none of us minds a little honest sweat.” She winked at him. “So be ready at seven, okay?”

“Cade doesn’t need to pick me up.” He struggled to keep the frustration out of his voice. “How will I get home? Anyway, I’m not—”

“See you later. Hope you’re hungry.” She stopped at the open door of her vehicle. “Oh, and just FYI, I think Nida might join us. You can tell her all about the progress you’re making here.” Then she was in her vehicle and gone before he could find his voice again.

Cade had told him his wife was a steamroller, and he was certainly right about that. Now what the fuck did he do? He didn’t even know how many people would be there or even how he would tolerate being social.

Shit. Shit. Shit!

He wasn’t normally a rude person. It was just that circumstances had shoved everything but his mission to the back burner. Still, Cade had been beyond nice and helpful to him. If a meal with them would make them feel better, Mac guessed he could tolerate it for a couple of hours.

And Nida will be there.

Not that he should be concerned with that. Or her. He had no business even thinking about her while he had this going on. Revenge and justice were the only two things he should be thinking about. So why then, when he lay in his sleeping bag at night on the hard floor, did he torment himself imaging what she would look like naked? So much so, that in order to get any sleep, he’d had to resort to his good right hand. Not nearly as satisfying as the soft velvet of a woman’s inner walls.

Pulling the starter on the Bushwacker, he went back to work on the undergrowth along one side of the house, possibly pushing the machine with a little more force than necessary.

“I think this is a bad idea,” Nida said to Georgie as she walked into the B&B kitchen. “I feel like a fifth wheel here.”

Georgie lifted an eyebrow. “Why? We’re all friends, almost like a family. Right?”

Nida gave her a crooked grin. “Yes, and I really do feel like it, except on nights like tonight when everyone else is all coupled up.”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Georgie turned away from the table toward the counter. “I invited Mac McDaniel. Cade’s picking him up.”

Nida nearly dropped the bowl of dip. “Georgie, what do you guys think you’re doing? I’ve seen how you all work. No one’s safe from your matchmaking efforts.”

“Matchmaking?” Georgie gave a ladylike snort. “We’re just widening our circle of friends.”

“Oh, right.” Nida shook her head. “I know you think this is something nice for me, but I really don’t want you to set me up. Please. I’m happy just the way I am.”

“Not setting you up, okay?” Georgie turned around and put her arm over Nida’s shoulders. “But you’re our friend. I hope Mac will be our friend. That’s all it is. If you guys get along, so much the better. But no pressure. Honest.”

“Uh huh.” She grinned. “So if I just ignore him, you won’t mind?”

“What I’ll mind is if you deliberately stop yourself from having a good time. Even for one night.”

“No rude behavior. That’s the best I can promise.”

“Good enough.” Georgie nodded.

Not that she hadn’t been thinking about the man nearly every waking moment since the sale had closed. Nor had she had unexpected erotic dreams, fantasies where he strode into her bedroom naked, his cock rigid and at attention. How many nights had she had to resort to her personal vibrator to relieve the unexpected sexual tension? No matter how many times she reminded herself she wasn’t a kid anymore and that she had rotten luck with men, she still dreamt of his hands on her breasts and his mouth on her lips, her nipples, and lower still to her clenching pussy. She needed to take herself in hand. Oh, wait. She was already doing that.

“Nida?” Georgie’s voice cut into her thoughts.

“What do you need?”

“Can you turn down the oven on the potatoes? I’m going to toss the salad and put it in the fridge. Cade started the grill before he left so it should be ready to go when he gets back.”

“Grill?” Nida paused with her hand at the oven controls. “Georgie, please tell me you didn’t use any of Cyn’s special rub on them. Please, please, please.”

Georgie burst out laughing. “Not that I didn’t think about it, but I figured it was too much to spring on Mac first time he gets together with us.” She grinned. “Although the extra special herb she puts in it has sure helped the libidos in Saddle Wells.”

“Yes, well, I’m just as happy to leave mine where it is right now. Dormant.”

“Even with a guy as hunky as Mac McDaniel?” Georgie teased.

“He’s a client, for God’s sake,” Nida protested. “You know I don’t mix business with pleasure.”

“If I were single, I wouldn’t mind making his pleasure my business. Just sayin’.” She held up her hand in protest. “Besides, you’ve turned down every eligible man in Rowan County since you moved here a few years ago. Isn’t it about time you stopped giving whoever broke your heart and sent you running here the satisfaction of controlling your life?”

Nida stared, her mouth open. “I’m not—I didn’t—I mean,”

Georgie flapped a hand at her. “We never pry, honey. At least we try not to,” she added hastily. “You made it clear whatever it was isn’t on the table for discussion. But it’s time to stop wasting your life, and we just want to help you do it.”

“And you think getting it on with a client is the way to do it?”

Georgie stored the big bowl of salad in the fridge, closed the door and turned back to Nida. “I’m saying that he’s no longer a client and it wouldn’t hurt to flirt a little. That’s all.”

“Fine. But not tonight, otherwise I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?” Georgie’s jaw dropped. “Okay, okay. Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll lay off, I promise.” Then she winked. “But I can hope, right?”

Nida had a feeling her friend wasn’t letting her off the hook quite so easily.

And truth be told, a tiny thread of anticipation wiggled its way through her. She was pretty damn sure anything between them was just a dead end. While Mac was focused on his mission, something he was totally unaware she knew about, she still had not been able to get him out of her mind.

Bad, Nida. You never learn your lesson. Even after all this time.

Even as she continued to help Georgie in the kitchen, she listened carefully as each vehicle pulled up in the driveway, telling herself she really wasn’t checking to see if it was Cade with Mac. Amy and Buck Montgomery arrived with Reenie and Matt Stark, the women hugging her as they always did, the men giving her brotherly kisses on the cheek. Cyn and Jess Orosco pulled up right on the heels of the others, followed by Liam Douglas and his fiancée, Charity Vance. Nida told the butterflies dancing in her stomach to take a nap. What on earth was she so nervous about anyway? She shouldn’t even be thinking about the man. Her bad track record and his preoccupation were two strong reasons for her to stay away from him.

The couples were all so familiar with the B&B they literally made themselves at home, the men taking drink orders and the women helping in the kitchen. Nida wasn’t sure drinking would be such a good idea tonight, but she settled for a Lone Star Light, figuring she could nurse it for a long time. For the next fifteen minutes, she scolded herself for being nervous about something she didn’t even think she wanted to happen. She was so preoccupied with her thoughts she never heard the front door open.

“I’m back,” Cade said, pausing to hug his wife. “And I brought Mac with me, as ordered. I’ll check the grill if one of you will give this poor man here a drink.”

Mac walked in behind Cade, looking slightly uncomfortable, and Nida wasn’t sure she blamed him. She knew exactly how he felt, like a bug under a microscope.

“Hey, Mac,” Buck called. “Come over here and tell me what your poison is.”

Georgie did the honors introducing everyone to Mac and then somehow they were all suddenly out on the screened porch with drinks and appetizers, watching Cade adjust the grill. Everyone seemed to find a place with their spouse, leaving Nida and Mac suddenly with the settee as their only option.
Lord
, she thought.
Could these people be any more obvious?

For a moment, she thought the man was just going to stand, or maybe walk outside to where Cade was stoking the fire. But then he sat down beside her, somewhat stiffly, and gave her a tentative smile.

“Good to see you again, Nida.”

“Back at you.” She took a sip of her drink. “How’s the work coming out at the ranch?”

He snorted. “With apologies to Cade, you could hardly call it a ranch.”

“Cade came to terms with all that ages ago,” Georgie said. “He’s happy someone’s changing the face of it.”

“Good.” Mac took a swallow of his drink.

Nida watched him, unable to control her fascination with the play of his muscles in his neck. In the week since she’d seen him, his skin had darkened from the sun and his blond hair had lightened. Its length now touched his collar. She noticed two Band-Aids on his right hand that she was sure were souvenirs of the hard work he’d been doing. From his strong jaw to his very sexy ass to his long, lean legs, he was every inch the masculine icon, and her body reacted to him in spite of her determination not to.